Wednesday, May 31, 2006

We visited the shrine of Prophet Musa (as) at Mount Nebo, a location very near to Palestine. It’s currently managed by the Christians.A friend questioned: Why do I visit shrines (maqam) all around Jordan? Nak berdoa ke?Uh! Tolong la… I’m not stupid or mad to pray at graves.I visit them to verify the existence of these people by heart. And pray that Allah grant me all the qualities they have. Patience, strength, courage, wisdom, love, and many more…

Started joining lectures in University of Jordan, particularly Tafseer and Manhaj Mufassirin classes, which is rather 'foreign' for me especially when the whole lecture was in arabic. Not even a sentence of English except for today "i will consider that" by Dr. Muhammad Rayyan. I only join his lectures. He's really great and knowledgable and etc. And the Arab students were mostly participative and the it was really a two-way communication between students and the lecturer.

On the 15th we went to as-Salt, where maqam Prophet Shu’aib (as) was located. It’s pretty cold in as-Salt, and I regretted not wearing extra clothing. It rained that day if I’m not mistaken… or the day after…? Anyway, anyone feeling down often tested by Allah with illness, remember the life of Prophet Shu’aib... May we be thankful for each and everything we get.

And on 17th April we went to Jabal Hussein and ate Shawarma. People say it’s one of the best Shawarma in Amman… and indeed it is!

Another class at Markaz alFaransa. I guess we’ll join the classes for the time being. Met the principal and she said that it’s too late to quit and refund. Yeah, the first week from 10 weeks is too late. Maybe that’s their policy, Allahu a’lam. She told us that maybe we can try join the 2nd level, higher level of Ammi Arabic--- next Wednesday 19th April.

Classes at Markaz al-Thaqafiyyah al-Faransa started. We joined the 1st Level! I’m not boasting or anything, but they’re teaching ismi Nihlah- ana Malayziyyeh- sakne fi Amman fi Abu Nuseir- etc etc. Huhuhu… The only confusing thing is that we’re learning Ammi instead of Fushah. They don’t offer Fushah Arabic there. I wonder why should we learn such since we’re only staying here for two months and will return to Malaysia, where we will not use even a little percentage of Ammi Arabic. Some error has been done (i.e. we shouldn’t have gone to that Markaz in the first place) and we’re still figuring out how to continue on…- picture from left: kak maziah & nihlah -

Oh yesterday the three of us slept for at least 12 hours. It was damn cold in our apartment, colder than outside (we really wonder why! Perhaps it’s bcoz of the marble floor…? Allahu a’lam…) and all we do was wrapped ourselves in blankets, and soon fell asleep. We didn’t go out because our lecturer from Zarqa Private University was suppose to come but didn’t for some reasons.

So we haven’t started any classes. I haven’t spoken any Arabic for real. Kak Maziah did, for she have more vocabs and at least can communicate with the apartment owner like cats and dogs. One speaks fushah and the native speaker doesn’t.

I’m back!!!We had no rest today- Went for a visit to Roman Theatre near Amman City Centre. Amman’s a city with many people, and many taxis… Every second you’re on the street, you’ll see cabs here and there, non-stop, horning pedestrians asking whether they would want a ride.

I soon realised that I’m kinda in love with Amman. I mean, yea it’s hectic and dusty and not that beautiful compared to KL, but the new environment IS nice and comfortable, although the weather’s damn cold and our apartment is like a refrigerator (believe me, it’s colder than outside!) and we have to wear sweaters and stockings indoors. Even shoes actually. The floor’s tiled with marble and at times, when I’m not wearing socks, my feet will stick onto the floor and something like electricity will come in between. Just like when you touch ice as soon as you pull out the ice tray from the freezer and it’ll stick onto your fingers. Uh--- that’s how you can imagine the frost.

In the morning, vapour (is it vapours BTW?) will come out of our mouth as we speak. Afternoon sun is as warm as in Malaysia but windy and pretty cold. During the night- hahahh… God knows how I wish I had brought more sweaters. 10 degrees centigrade is the average.Tapi sejuk2 pun pakai vest aje. Sweater bagi Kak Maziah pinjam pasal dye tak bawak. Huhu...

Well hmm… I’ll certainly return to Amman after my Engineering degree, nsyaAllah, at least for a visit.

Bapil (real name: Hani Jibril Mohd Aris) fetched us at the airport and brought us to our apartment in Abu Nuseir. The temperature was 10 degrees, and we weren’t wearing any extra clothing. The apartment was really nice & comfy, tapi bantal sikit punye keras la sakit leher gak. Haha ye la, dah kat umah dok guna bantal isi goose feather & another for my backbone... Anyways, the apartment was complete. From kitchen utensils, TV, washing machine – apartment la – to phone & internet line, all complete. But internet line dial-up and mahal. Baik pegi CC, which is just down the street. Oh our phone no here is +962799643883. Oh, but the radiator wasn’t working coz we haven’t bought the gas and it was just yesterday that the water heater operated. We survived one and a half day with freezing cold water that could make our hands numb.

Anyways, this morning we were suppose to sit for our placement test – a speaking test. We went to Markaz al-Thaqafiyyah al-Faransa (they teach English, Arabic & French there) but the attendant told us that there won’t be any placement test and asked us to come back on Monday, join the 1st level class twice and the lecturer will determine our level. So we headed back home.

It has been more than 24 hours since I first stepped onto the Land of The Prophets. Subhanallah. I was exited but nervous. I’ve never travelled far without my beloved dad – I don’t travel often anyway. The three of us, Kak Maziah, Cik Nurul & I, arrived in Queen Alia International Airport at 4:30 a.m. on 7th April 2006 after a two-hour flight from KL (LCC-T : by Air Asia) to Bangkok and a 9-hour flight from Bangkok to Amman (flying with Royal Jordanian), with a 3-hour transit in Bangkok.

The other two sisters didn’t eat much or even had a good sleep in the plane. I, on the contrary, ate like I’ve not eaten for a day and slept as if I hadn’t slept enough for days. That’s the very thing I would do when I get bored and have nothing else to do. Paling hampehnye --- lepas makan mesti ngantuk ~ python mode ~ nobody should be shocked if I come back being over 50 kg okay! Hahaha!!!

Another reason that made me slept so deeply was the headache. Yea, I was tensed out the night before the flight when I realised that the travel agency issued the wrong Bangkok-Amman ticket, which could have given us the opportunity to experience a 27-hour transit in Bangkok. Thanks to a friend who questioned why would the flight take nearly 2 days… I took my calculator and calculated, and freaked out like hell when I realised the truth. I didn’t expect the ticket to be wrong, although I realised that the time printed on the ticket was a li’l bit weird. I freaked out coz Mom would kinda scold me of being CARELESS again,,, for more than a hundredth time. I prayed for tranquillity and asked Tikki (the anytime-friend @sister) whether I should wake her up at 1:30 in the morning. She said yes. Again I prayed for tranquillity. And alhamdulillah, after consulting her, she asked me to just go to bed and settle things first thing in the morning. What a great mother I have, subhanallah.

But I still freaked out with the idea that the other two sisters would be disappointed as I am the one who’s dealing with the tickets and organizing the whole trip. Ostad Azmil and Sharaf came in and gave wise ideas (it’ll be an adventure!) and that somehow calmed me down. Alhamdulillah things went on much better the next day. I called the travel agency and asked for a flight on the 6th instead of 7th and we confirmed 3 seats a couple of hours later. Drove with Abg Nahar to KL and got the new ticket, actually they just pasted a sticker, and corrected the return ticket to 12th June instead of 11th APRIL (another mistake).

30 hours without supply of water in our home was so dreadful and seemed like ages of drought. Alhamdulillah ade jiran-jiran Melayu, boleh tumpang gak rumah diorang. We went to two houses on the first day, because the first one had had too many visitors so we voluntarily depart.On the second day, early in the morning we washed ourselves humbly with what is left of the reserved water and went to the bundle store. Each of us bought a cap ‘coz Summer’s Sun really burning hot and intense for a couple of days already. The temperature perhaps reached 30°C or at least 27°C and it’s very dry! Rase macam nak demam pun ade. Tapi badan kejap panas kejap sejuk. Sebab dalam rumah sejuk, the marble floor and the walls still preserve the chilliness of Spring, I guess… And oh! My cough is getting better though the throat pains (it wasn’t painful before this, just very itchy). Hingus pun tak meleleh tapi hidung tersumbat pulak. However, whatever is the sickness, thank you Allah for the breathe of life You’ve given me…

Went to Bakri, a perfume shop and bought a bottle for Isa and another for Kakak. Yeah, Kakak’s getting married 08 07 06 insyaAllah. Musa told me that the house renovation is really cool and beautiful even it’s not yet done, I wonder what happens to the house. And I really wonder what happens too to my messy bedroom I left a month and a half ago. Has anyone tidied it up?Oh, out of the topic again. So yes, the perfume will be a wedding present from me nsyaAllah. Oh, don’t go babble this to anyone, it’ll be a surprise. None of my siblings do read this, I suppose. So, don’t tell ‘em okay? Deal…

Anyway, finally got home and was very exhausted. We really wish there’s water at home. I forced myself to just lie down while we figure out how to get the tank filled. Nombor telefon ‘jabatan air’ (it’s a personal sector though) dah hilang entah ke mana ----- kat rumah Bapil and there’s no way to get anyone working on a Friday, especially when Urdun’s Independence Day is yesterday. And I don’t know what the Yellow Pages have but Bapil said tak ada the phone number in there. I soon fell halfway asleep.

And I thought – was it (the shortage of water) because that we didn’t realize there were three pasu bunga at our veranda yang tak kena siram for more than one and a half month. I have no idea how could none of us realize they were there. I personally seldom go out to hang washed clothes [the other sisters did it for me, thank you!]. The plants was dry and dying when the Sayyidah Maryam (the owner of the apartment) came and reminded us about them. Uh-oh!!! I was sooooooooooo shocked and embarrassed and rushed to wet the soil…

I woked up with a call from Abg Burn (Bapil’s housemate). He found the phone number. Good gracious how I was really glad and happy and thanked Allah till my eyes wet. Because, yeah, I was feeling really terrible if the situation is really a punishment from Allah… Asked Abg Burn to give the water-business (I really don’t know how to describe them) a call to ask them to fill a full 2 meter cubic tank with JD 14 (i.e. about RM 75 but we really need water!!!). Abg Burn called, but the man said not until tomorrow morning. I didn’t think I have a problem with that. Having the hope that “you will not have to live without water at your home until Monday” was already relieving enough. So I just thanked Allah and decided that we will go somewhere for Asar or Maghrib.

Soon, a portable water-tank passed by our home. Here in Urdun, water are brought to houses in tanks, not by pipes. Why, I wonder, but it’ll be a pretty long dialogue I bet. Kak Maziah and Cik Nurul rushed out and spoke to the man who drove the tank. Man, he speaks really good English, you gotta believe this. Arabs here who speak good English may simply just pop out of anywhere – taxi or water-tanks drivers, store workers, anywhere perhaps, but not everywhere. He said: “JD 15, in two-hours time”. We were about to say “okay” when our neighbour, an Iraqi family, came out and negotiated for us. In just a couple of minutes, we got it: “JD 5! and immediately!” Subhanallah…I – being someone who just cannot sit still and watch the tank-driver and our neighbour fill in our tank – immediately joined them in the hard-work. Taking a long rubber-pipe up a five-story building not by stairs but from the balcony, memang rasa nak tercabut tangan. But alhamdulillah, soon got the pipe to our tank and water gush out filling our tank. It was not full, the Iraqi doctor told us to just pay JD 4. That’s it. With Allah’s help… MasyaAllah…

BTW, hey, the not-watering-the-plants isn’t a dream okay, it’s real. It’s just really reminding that we shouldn’t be mean to any creation of Allah, especially intentionally.

But… I don’t really see any reason why we should we be punished when we don’t realize the true fact that the plants existed there. Or it’s just a test from Him. Allahu a’lam. There’s always hikmah behind everything, aite? What can I conclude here are only some lessons…1) we have to train ourselves to be more aware of things around us2) when facing any kind of tests, remember Allah and pray hard.3) help others as much as you can, for one day you will need their help; if not in this world, may Allah reward you on The Day you really need His mercy.